Roger Clemens, Bo Porter send a strong message to young Astros

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — Roger Clemens’ message to the Astros on Wednesday was one of urgency and maturity, that a young team needs to grow up quickly.

He met with both the pitchers and catchers, but his message ran deeper than just mound work.

“I hope they pay attention to detail,” Clemens said. “And I hope they pay attention when they’re not pitching, watch what’s happening to a certain hitter that they may have trouble with, or how they want to break that hitter down.

“That’s all part of the learning process, but, good Lord, you’re a major league player. You should already have that in your routine in your makeup and how you carry yourself.”

Before Clemens even spoke a word in the clubhouse around 9 a.m. on Wednesday, it was clear to Astros manager Bo Porter just how badly — and broadly — his team needed that exact message.

Once the pitchers and catchers came out to stretch, Porter gathered his players on the outfield. He delivered a brief but stern talking-to, his voice carrying beyond the circle of players.

He felt the team had been “disrespectful” to Clemens, a special advisor for the team, and he told them so.

“Obviously, as an organization, we’re fortunate to have some people like Roger Clemens and Craig Biggio and different people that will come in throughout the course of the year and speak to our ball club,” Porter explained later in the day. “Out of respect to your teammates, out of respect to the people that take time out of their day that come out here and try to do everything that they can to help this organization, it’s the right thing to do to make sure that you are dressed and ready and attentive when that person shows up.”

Considering the Astros were 24 hours from their first official full-squad workout, which is set for Thursday morning, an organization that has at times been a laughingstock wasn’t exactly shedding its old ways.

Porter is a high-energy manager. He’s arranged this spring for the team’s quotes of the day to be texted to players every morning. His club was baseball’s worst last season, but he’s never lacking for enthusiasm.

He showed he can be firm too.

“I’ve said this to the catchers and the pitchers, and the position players will get the same message tomorrow,” Porter said. “The training wheels are off. It’s either you can ride a bike without training wheels, or you’re going to fall down and we’ll pick you up and get you moving on your way.”

This spring, from 9-9:15 every morning, Porter has instituted what he’s termed the “synergistic chemistry lab.” It’s a time for Astros players to be amongst themselves, without coaches. Players are to bond and coach themselves.

Normally, Porter wouldn’t know what’s happening during that session.

“Actually, I walked Roger in there today,” Porter said. “I walked him downstairs to introduce him to the ball club and then he was going to get started with his meeting.”

When it was suggested to Porter that the unpreparedness he found could be a fireable offense in the layman’s world, at a proverbial real job, he did not disagree.

“You very well can (be fired),” Porter “You can get fired, you can dock your pay. These are life lessons that we’re talking about, and it happens on a baseball field, or with a baseball team. But in reality, we’re talking about life, and these are life lessons.”

Clemens did not mention the slight that Porter saw. His message, though, was ultimately the same: everyone is looking for more from the Astros.

“Spring training, everybody’s all giddy right now, and then you start the season and everybody gets punched in the face and it’s not a lot of fun,” Clemens said. “I think they’re kind of taking the kid gloves off of ’em a little bit and asking a lot of ’em to step up.

“I think not only (is that coming from me), but the fans and the sponsors and everybody else. I think they’ve got to realize that it’s not only just about them. Everybody’s rooting hard and they want ’em to do well.”

On the field, Clemens watched bullpen sessions, he talked to pitchers, standing behind Paul Clemens (no relation) as the righthander threw a bullpen.

Mark Appel, the top pick in last year’s draft, said he was listening to Clemens for the first time.

The Rocket still enjoys putting on spikes and teaching by showing, but he stayed in his crosstrainers on Wednesday.

“It was just nice to get a chance to talk to him,” Astros starter Lucas Harell said.

Clemens still represents the last glory era of the team on the field, when the Astros were always a threat circa 2005. He seems to be growing impatient to see a repeat, and Wednesday was not a sign one is near.

“These guys need to experience that,” Clemens said. “They’re going to blink and they’re going to have five, six years in and they’re not even going to sniff what it’s like to play in the playoffs, and they need to have that feeling.”

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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Players in the dugout during the Astros' intra-squad game at the Osceola County Stadium on Sunday.

Players in the dugout during the Astros' intra-squad game at the Osceola County Stadium on Sunday.

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Morgan Ensberg, Astros special assignment coach talks to his "team" during the Astros' intra-squad game.

Morgan Ensberg, Astros special assignment coach talks to his "team" during the Astros' intra-squad game.

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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Catcher Max Stassi makes a catch on a pop out during the Astros' intra-squad game.

Catcher Max Stassi makes a catch on a pop out during the Astros' intra-squad game.

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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Carlos Correa rounds the bases and high-fives third base coach Pat Listach after his home run during the intra-squad game.

Carlos Correa rounds the bases and high-fives third base coach Pat Listach after his home run during the intra-squad game.

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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Carlos Correa is met at home plate by Marc Krauss after his home run.

Carlos Correa is met at home plate by Marc Krauss after his home run.

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Delino DeShields strikes out during the intra-squad game.

Delino DeShields strikes out during the intra-squad game.

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Jose Altuve reacts after hitting a double.

Jose Altuve reacts after hitting a double.

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Dexter Fowler sits on the fence as his teammates look on.

Dexter Fowler sits on the fence as his teammates look on.

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Leo Heras hangs on the dugout fence with his teammates.

Leo Heras hangs on the dugout fence with his teammates.

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Preston Tucker in the on-deck circle.

Preston Tucker in the on-deck circle.

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Carlos Correa signals that he's got a pop fly hit by Jesus Guzman as they played in an intra-squad game.

Carlos Correa signals that he's got a pop fly hit by Jesus Guzman as they played in an intra-squad game.

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Jon Singleton fields a grounder.

Jon Singleton fields a grounder.

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Catcher Max Stassi runs the bases after his home run.

Catcher Max Stassi runs the bases after his home run.

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Mark Appel greets catcher Max Stassi at home after Stassi's home run.

Mark Appel greets catcher Max Stassi at home after Stassi's home run.

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Jonathan Singleton of the Astros signs an autograph for a fan at spring training.

Jonathan Singleton of the Astros signs an autograph for a fan at spring training.

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Astros manager Bo Porter huddles with the team after spring training drills.

Astros manager Bo Porter huddles with the team after spring training drills.

Jerome Williams' pink glove sits in the grass as he and other players stretch during workouts for pitchers and catchers. Williams uses the glove in honor of his mother, Deborah, who died of breast cancer in 2001. less

Jerome Williams' pink glove sits in the grass as he and other players stretch during workouts for pitchers and catchers. Williams uses the glove in honor of his mother, Deborah, who died of breast cancer in ... more

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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Jerome Williams with his pink glove as he prepared to pitch during workouts for pitchers and catchers. Williams uses the glove in honor of his mother, Deborah, who died of breast cancer in 2001.

Jerome Williams with his pink glove as he prepared to pitch during workouts for pitchers and catchers. Williams uses the glove in honor of his mother, Deborah, who died of breast cancer in 2001.

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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Jerome Williams with his pink glove as he pitched during workouts for pitchers and catchers on Monday. Williams uses the glove in honor of his mother, Deborah, who died of breast cancer in 2001.

Jerome Williams with his pink glove as he pitched during workouts for pitchers and catchers on Monday. Williams uses the glove in honor of his mother, Deborah, who died of breast cancer in 2001.

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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Jerome Williams with his pink glove as he pitched during workouts for pitchers and catchers on Monday. Williams uses the glove in honor of his mother, Deborah, who died of breast cancer in 2001.

Jerome Williams with his pink glove as he pitched during workouts for pitchers and catchers on Monday. Williams uses the glove in honor of his mother, Deborah, who died of breast cancer in 2001.

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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An Astros fan watches pitchers throw during workouts for pitchers and catchers on Monday.

An Astros fan watches pitchers throw during workouts for pitchers and catchers on Monday.

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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Astros spring training coach and pitching coach for the Oklahoma City Redhawks, Steve Webber, left, shows Jorge De Leon how he should be holding the ball during workouts.

Astros spring training coach and pitching coach for the Oklahoma City Redhawks, Steve Webber, left, shows Jorge De Leon how he should be holding the ball during workouts.

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Alex White throws the ball during workouts for pitchers on Monday. White had Tommy John surgery last April, causing him to miss nearly the entire season.

Alex White throws the ball during workouts for pitchers on Monday. White had Tommy John surgery last April, causing him to miss nearly the entire season.

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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Alex White throws the ball during workouts for pitchers on Monday. White had Tommy John surgery last April, causing him to miss nearly the entire season.

Alex White throws the ball during workouts for pitchers on Monday. White had Tommy John surgery last April, causing him to miss nearly the entire season.

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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Carlos Correa takes grounders during workouts for early-arriving position players.

Carlos Correa takes grounders during workouts for early-arriving position players.

Photo: Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle

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Carlos Correa takes grounders during workouts for early-arriving position players.

Carlos Correa takes grounders during workouts for early-arriving position players.